Of Mice and Men Student Workbook

• Downloadable Novel Units® Product • Single-Classroom User License • Novel Units® Single-Classroom User Agreement

With the purchase of electronic materials (such as ebooks and print-on-demand
teaching activities) from a Novel Units, Inc. (Novel Units) Web site, or that of a
Novel Units authorized dealer’s Web site, the customer (the purchaser or person
for whom this product was purchased) is granted a single-classroom user license,
which entitles the customer to use or duplicate these materials for a single
classroom (or home) only.

Sharing the digital files or reproduction of any part of this
publication in any way or by any means for additional classrooms
(or homes), an entire school, or a school system; by for-profit
institutions and tutoring centers; or for commercial sale is strictly
prohibited.

Reproduction of any part of the Teacher Guide is strictly prohibited. Use of the
materials for anything other than classroom instruction is a violation of Novel Units
intellectual property rights. Materials may be transmitted or projected via digital
device within a single classroom setting only; any other electronic transmission or
projection of materials is strictly prohibited. Novel Units retains full intellectual
property rights on all proprietary products, and these rights extend to electronic
editions of print books or materials, excerpts of print books or materials, and
individual teaching activities offered for sale in digital format.

To obtain more information, or, if you would like to use Novel Units products for
additional purposes not outlined in the single-classroom license (described above),
please contact [email protected].

ecslearningsystems.com

OF MICE AND MEN

by
John Steinbeck

Student Packet

Written by
James H Duncan

Contains masters for: 2 Prereading Activities • Downloadable Novel Units® Product • Single-Classroom User License •
PLUS 3 Vocabulary Activities
1 Study Guide
3 Character Analysis Activities
3 Literary Analysis Activities
2 Comprehension Activities
1 Critical Thinking Activity
3 Quizzes
1 Novel Test
Detailed Answer Key
and Scoring Rubric

Teacher Note Note

Selected activities, quizzes, and The 1993 Penguin Books paperback edition of the novel, © 1937 by John
test questions in this Novel Units® Steinbeck and renewed 1965, was used to prepare this guide. The page
Student Packet are labeled with references may differ in other editions. Novel ISBN: 978-0-14-017739-8
the appropriate reading/language
arts skills for quick reference. Please note: Parts of this novel deal with sensitive, mature issues. Please
These skills can be found above assess the appropriateness of this novel for the age level and maturity of
quiz/test questions or sections and your students prior to reading and discussing it with them.
in the activity headings.

ISBN 978-1-60878-284-0 Publisher Information
For a complete catalog, contact—
Copyright infringement is a violation of Federal Law.
Novel Units, Inc.
© 2013 by Novel Units, Inc., Bulverde, Texas. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this publication P.O. Box 97
is limited to the terms of the Single-Classroom User License for a maximum of 30 copies. No part
of this publication may be translated, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted or shared in any Bulverde, TX 78163-0097
way or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without
prior written permission from Novel Units, Inc. Reproduction of any part of this publication for Web site: novelunits.com
multiple school terms, an entire school or for a school system, by for-profit institutions and tutoring
centers, or for commercial sale is strictly prohibited. For more digital resources, visit:
ecslearningsystems.com
Reproduction of any part of the Teacher Guide is strictly prohibited.

Novel Units is a registered trademark of Novel Units, Inc.

• Downloadable Novel Units® Product • Single-Classroom User License • Note to the Teacher

Selected activities, quizzes, and test questions in this Novel Units® Student Packet are labeled with theAll rights reserved
following reading/language arts skills for quick reference. These skills can be found above quiz/test
questions or sections and in the activity headings.

Basic Understanding: The student will demonstrate a basic understanding of written texts. The
student will:

• use a text’s structure or other sources to locate and recall information (Locate Information)
• determine main idea and identify relevant facts and details (Main Idea and Details)
• use prior knowledge and experience to comprehend and bring meaning to a text

(Prior Knowledge)
• summarize major ideas in a text (Summarize Major Ideas)

Literary Elements: The student will apply knowledge of literary elements to understand written
texts. The student will:

• analyze characters from a story (Character Analysis)
• analyze conflict and problem resolution (Conflict/Resolution)
• recognize and interpret literary devices (flashback, foreshadowing, symbolism, simile,

metaphor, etc.) (Literary Devices)
• consider characters’ points of view (Point of View)
• recognize and analyze a story’s setting (Setting)
• understand and explain themes in a text (Theme)

Analyze Written Texts: The student will use a variety of strategies to analyze written texts. The
student will:

• identify the author’s purpose (Author’s Purpose)
• identify cause and effect relationships in a text (Cause/Effect)
• identify characteristics representative of a given genre (Genre)
• interpret information given in a text (Interpret Text)
• make and verify predictions with information from a text (Predictions)
• sequence events in chronological order (Sequencing)
• identify and use multiple text formats (Text Format)
• follow written directions and write directions for others to follow (Follow/Write Directions)

Critical Thinking: The student will apply critical-thinking skills to analyze written texts. The
student will:

• write and complete analogies (Analogies)
• find similarities and differences throughout a text (Compare/Contrast)
• draw conclusions from information given (Drawing Conclusions)
• make and explain inferences (Inferences)
• respond to texts by making connections and observations (Making Connections)
• recognize and identify the mood of a text (Mood)
• recognize an author’s style and how it affects a text (Style)
• support responses by referring to relevant aspects of a text (Support Responses)
• recognize and identify the author’s tone (Tone)
• write to entertain, such as through humorous poetry or short stories (Write to Entertain)
• write to express ideas (Write to Express)
• write to inform (Write to Inform)
• write to persuade (Write to Persuade)
• demonstrate understanding by creating visual images based on text descriptions (Visualizing)
• practice math skills as they relate to a text (Math Skills)

2 © Novel Units, Inc.

Name ________________________________ Of Mice and Men
Activity #1 • Prereading

Use Before Reading
(Locate Information/Predictions)

Getting the “Lay of the Land”

Directions: Prepare for reading by answering the following short-answer questions.

1. Who is the author?

_________________________________

2. What does the title suggest to you about the novel?

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________ • Downloadable Novel Units® Product • Single-Classroom User License •

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

3. When was the novel first copyrighted?

_________________________________

4. How many pages are in the novel?

_________________________________

5. Thumb through the novel. Read three pages—one from near the beginning, one from near
the middle, and one from near the end. What predictions can you make about the novel?

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

6. What does the cover suggest to you about the novel?

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

All rights reserved

© Novel Units, Inc. 3

Name ________________________________ Of Mice and Men
Activity #2 • Prereading
Anticipation Guide Use Before and After Reading

(Prior Knowledge)

Directions: Rate each of the following statements before you read the novel, and discuss your
ratings with a partner. After you have completed the novel, rate and discuss the statements again.

1 ————— 2 ————— 3 ————— 4 ————— 5 ————— 6

strongly agree strongly disagree

• Downloadable Novel Units® Product • Single-Classroom User License • Before After
______
1. Sharing your aspirations with strangers is dangerous. ______ ______

2. It isn’t important to have good friends if you are constantly moving. ______ ______
______
3. It is better to isolate yourself than make friends with people who ______ ______
mistreat you. ______
______
4. Having great strength is better than having intelligence. ______ ______
______
5. It is impossible to run away from your problems. ______
______
6. A bad reputation will follow you everywhere. ______

7. When something is no longer useful, it is best to get rid of it. ______

8. It is healthy to have goals in life, even ones that seem unattainable. ______

9. All people fall into one of two categories: good people or bad people. ______

10. If someone wrongs you, it is better to forgive them than to seek ______
vengeance.

All rights reserved

4 © Novel Units, Inc.

Name ________________________________ Of Mice and Men
Activity #3 • Vocabulary

Pages 1–37

Vocabulary Comprehension

recumbent bindle brusquely elaborate
pantomime imperiously anguished morosely
mollified pugnacious derogatory disengage
profound

Directions: Choose the word or phrase closest in meaning to the vocabulary word as it is used in
the novel.

____ 1. recumbent (a) leaning (b) lengthy (c) level (d) lush • Downloadable Novel Units® Product • Single-Classroom User License •

____ 2. bindle (a) pack (b) plunder (c) possessions (d) props

____ 3. brusquely (a) haggardly (b) harshly (c) honestly (d) hopefully

____ 4. elaborate (a) deadpan (b) deceptive (c) detailed (d) dubious

____ 5. pantomime (a) performance (b) plan (c) practice (d) proposal

____ 6. imperiously (a) abruptly (b) absently (c) accommodatingly (d) authoritatively

____ 7. anguished (a) tenacious (b) terrified (c) timid (d) tormented

____ 8. morosely (a) secretively (b) serenely (c) soothingly (d) sullenly

____ 9. mollified (a) pacified (b) perturbed (c) petrified (d) preoccupied

____ 10. pugnacious (a) belligerent (b) beneficial (c) benevolent (d) bewildered

____ 11. derogatory (a) incorrigible (b) ineffective (c) insistent (d) insulting

____ 12. disengage (a) denounce (b) detach (c) disappear (d) distract

____ 13. profound (a) indispensable (b) influential (c) insightful (d) intolerable All rights reserved

© Novel Units, Inc. 5

Name ________________________________ Of Mice and Men
Activity #4 • Vocabulary

Pages 38–65

Word Map

derision receptive nuisance irrigation
cultivator deliberate sarcastically subsided
reprehensible reverently bemused cowering

Directions: Complete the word map below for six of the vocabulary words above.

Definition

• Downloadable Novel Units® Product • Single-Classroom User License • Synonym Vocabulary Antonym
Pronunciation Word Part of Speech

Sentence

All rights reserved

6 © Novel Units, Inc.

Name ________________________________ Of Mice and Men
Activity #5 • Vocabulary

Pages 66–107

Vocabulary Synonyms/Antonyms

accumulated liniment disarming apprehension
scornful crestfallen sniveled skittered
retorted belligerently monotonous

Directions: Each sentence below contains an antonym or synonym of a vocabulary word above.
Write the correct related vocabulary word in the provided space, and circle all antonyms.

1. Gerald led the choir in a very melodious rendition of the classic song. _______________ • Downloadable Novel Units® Product • Single-Classroom User License •
2. The innocent man sobbed to the detectives that he was framed for the crime. _______________
3. When Ivy walked outside, the deer scurried across her front lawn. _______________
4. When the police arrived, they kindly asked the protestors to leave. _______________
5. After receiving a bad review, the artist countered, “That critic has never even seen my work!”

_______________
6. Kieran rubbed salve on his sore muscles after competing in the marathon. _______________
7. Mr. Brown has amassed the largest collection of jazz records in his neighborhood.

_______________
8. Patricia’s anxiety about the midterm caused her to have bad dreams every night that week.

_______________
9. The politician’s captivating speech calmed the crowd. _______________
10. The witness answered the lawyer’s questions in a respectful manner. _______________
11. Rebecca was extremely proud when she won the academic award at the assembly.

_______________

All rights reserved

© Novel Units, Inc. 7

Name ________________________________ Of Mice and Men
Study Guide

• Downloadable Novel Units® Product • Single-Classroom User License • Directions: On a separate sheet of paper, write a brief answer to each question as you read the
novel at home or in class. Use the questions to guide your reading, prepare for class discussions,
and review for quizzes and tests.

Pages 1–37
1. Briefly describe George and Lennie.
2. What does Lennie hide in his pocket, and why? How does George respond to this?
3. What does George tell Lennie about meeting the ranch boss?
4. According to George, what would his life be like without Lennie? How do you think George
really feels?
5. According to George, what makes him and Lennie different from other migrant workers?
6. What is George and Lennie’s dream for their future?
7. What upsets George immediately upon his arrival on the ranch?
8. What excuse does George give to the ranch boss for Lennie, and how does Lennie feel
about it?
9. According to Candy, why is Curley so bad-tempered? What does George think about
Curley’s behavior?

10. What advice does George give Lennie concerning Curley’s wife?
11. According to Slim, why don’t many men travel together like George and Lennie?

Pages 38–65
1. How did George previously treat Lennie, and why did that change?
2. What caused George and Lennie to flee their job in Weed?
3. Why doesn’t Carlson like Candy’s dog, and what does he suggest Candy do about it? What
happens to the dog?
4. What does Slim say about the situation with Candy’s dog?
5. To where does Whit invite George? How does George respond, and why?
6. Why does Whit believe Curley should leave Slim alone?
7. What does Candy suggest when he hears about George and Lennie’s dream farm? What does
George think of this idea?
8. How does Candy feel about his role on the ranch?
9. Why does Curley pick a fight with Lennie? What happens as a result?

10. What deal does Slim make with Curley following the fight with Lennie?

All rights reserved

8 © Novel Units, Inc.

Name ________________________________ Of Mice and Men
Study Guide
page 2

Pages 66–107 • Downloadable Novel Units® Product • Single-Classroom User License •
1. Why doesn’t Crooks want Lennie in his room?
2. How does Crooks upset Lennie?
3. How does Crooks feel about being alone? What does he think of George and Lennie’s plan
to buy a farm?
4. How does Curley’s wife threaten Crooks, Candy, and Lennie?
5. What does Lennie try to hide from George, and why is he so frightened?
6. What does Curley’s wife reveal to Lennie about her past?
7. How does Lennie react after the accident in the barn?
8. What is Slim’s response to Curley’s call to arms against Lennie?
9. What visions does Lennie have by the river? What do these visions tell him to do?

10. What happens when George finds Lennie at the river?

All rights reserved

© Novel Units, Inc. 9

Name ________________________________ Of Mice and Men
Activity #6 • Comprehension

Use During Reading
(Literary Devices)

Clue Log

Directions: When you read something you think might be important later in the novel, write it
in the chart below.

Page Clue (event or item) Could have something
to do with—

• Downloadable Novel Units® Product • Single-Classroom User License •

All rights reserved

10 © Novel Units, Inc.

Name ________________________________ Of Mice and Men
Activity #7 • Character Analysis

Use During and After Reading
(Character Analysis)

Sociogram

Directions: A sociogram shows the relationship between characters in a story. Complete the
sociogram below by writing a word to describe the relationships between the characters.
Remember, relationships go both ways, so each line requires a descriptive word.

George Slim • Downloadable Novel Units® Product • Single-Classroom User License •

Lennie

Curley’s Curley
wife

All rights reserved

© Novel Units, Inc. 11

Name ________________________________ Of Mice and Men
Activity #8 • Critical Thinking
Use During and After Reading

(Conflict/Resolution)

Good and Bad Results

Directions: Write the good results and the bad results of each decision.

Good Results Decision #1 Bad Results

• Downloadable Novel Units® Product • Single-Classroom User License • George and Lennie
flee their job in
Weed.

Good Results Decision #2 Bad Results

George encourages
Lennie to fight back
against Curley.

Good Results Decision #3 Bad Results
George kills Lennie.

All rights reserved

12 © Novel Units, Inc.

Name ________________________________ Of Mice and Men
Activity #9 • Character Analysis

Use During and After Reading
(Character Analysis/Support Responses)

Character Buzz Words

Directions: Choose a character from the novel. In the graphic below, write as many words as
you can think of to describe him/her. Your words may describe the character’s appearance,
personality, emotions, demographics, etc. Then, on a separate sheet of paper, write a brief essay
explaining whether you believe the character is a good person.

Character: ____________________________________________

• Downloadable Novel Units® Product • Single-Classroom User License •

All rights reserved

© Novel Units, Inc. 13

Name ________________________________ Of Mice and Men
Activity #10 • Literary Analysis
Use During and After Reading

(Prior Knowledge/Character Analysis)

Protagonists and Antagonists

The main character in a story is called the protagonist. Sometimes we call the protagonist the
hero or heroine. The character who opposes the hero in a story is called the antagonist.
Sometimes we call the antagonist the villain.

Directions: Think about stories you have read. Who were some of the protagonists
(heroes/heroines) in these stories? Who were the antagonists (villains)? List some of the
protagonists and antagonists and the stories in which they appeared.

• Downloadable Novel Units® Product • Single-Classroom User License • Protagonists Antagonists Story

Complete the charts below by listing some common characteristics of protagonists and
antagonists. For example, a protagonist is often brave. An antagonist may be cunning or cruel.
Sometimes the antagonist is not just a person but a belief or custom.

Protagonists Antagonists

As you read, decide who is the protagonist and who or what is the antagonist. Compare/contrast
characteristics to the characters you listed in the chart above.

All rights reserved

14 © Novel Units, Inc.

Name ________________________________ Of Mice and Men
Activity #11 • Character Analysis
Feelings
Use After Reading
(Character Analysis/Sequencing)

Directions: Choose a character from the novel, and complete the chart below.

Describe the character in the beginning. Summarize important events in
the boxes below. Describe how
the character feels after each one.

Event #1: The character feels... • Downloadable Novel Units® Product • Single-Classroom User License •

Event #2: The character feels...

Event #3: The character feels...

Event #4: The character feels...

Event #5: The character feels...

Event #6: The character feels...

Describe ________________________ at the end.

All rights reserved

© Novel Units, Inc. 15

Name ________________________________ Of Mice and Men
Activity #12 • Comprehension

Use After Reading
(Cause/Effect)

Think About It

Directions: Use the chart below to answer a question you have about the novel. Provide three
reasons and three examples that help answer your question.

Reason 1: Example from the story:

• Downloadable Novel Units® Product • Single-Classroom User License • Question: Reason 2: Example from the story:

Reason 3: Example from the story:

All rights reserved

16 © Novel Units, Inc.

Name ________________________________ Of Mice and Men
Activity #13 • Literary Analysis
Story Map
Use After Reading
Directions: Complete the story map below. (Literary Elements)
Setting #1
Characters

Exposition • Downloadable Novel Units® Product • Single-Classroom User License •
(What is the opening situation?)

Setting #2 Additional Characters

What is the potential for conflict?
What conflict develops?

How is the conflict resolved?

All rights reserved

© Novel Units, Inc. 17

Name ________________________________ Of Mice and Men
Activity #14 • Literary Analysis
Thematic Analysis
Use After Reading
(Theme)

Directions: Choose a theme from the novel to be the focus of your word web. On the spokes,
provide examples from the novel that support the theme. Then, answer the question in each
starred box.

• Downloadable Novel Units® Product • Single-Classroom User License •

( What is the author’s ( What did you learn
main message? from the novel?

All rights reserved

18 © Novel Units, Inc.

Name ________________________________ Of Mice and Men
Quiz #1

Pages 1–37

(Main Idea and Details)
A. True/False: Mark each with a T for true or an F for false.
____ 1. George refuses to let Lennie have a puppy.
____ 2. George lies to the boss and says Lennie is mute.
____ 3. Lennie’s aunt used to give him mice, but he always killed them accidentally.
____ 4. Curley will never be fired from the ranch because the boss is afraid of him.
____ 5. Slim believes most men travel alone because people are scared of each other.

(Main Idea and Details) • Downloadable Novel Units® Product • Single-Classroom User License •
B. Fill in the Blanks

6. Lennie checks his pockets and is afraid that he lost his _______________ _______________,
but George kept it for him.

7. George says guys who travel like them are the _______________ guys in the world.

8. George tells the boss that Lennie is his _______________ and that he was kicked in the head

by a(n) _______________ when he was younger.

9. George is angry when he finds a can of _______________ near his _______________.

10. _______________ is a jerkline skinner and is considered the _______________ of the ranch.

(Drawing Conclusions) All rights reserved
C. Open-Ended Comprehension: On the lines below, explain why George is so determined to
keep Lennie away from Curley’s wife.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________

© Novel Units, Inc. 19

Name ________________________________ Of Mice and Men
Quiz #2

Pages 38–65

• Downloadable Novel Units® Product • Single-Classroom User License • (Summarize Major Ideas)
A. Short Answer: Briefly respond to each of the following.

1. Why does Candy wish to join Lennie and George on their dream farm?
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________

2. What deal does Slim make with Curley, and why?
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________

3. Why does Carlson think Candy should kill his dog?
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________

4. How did George previously treat Lennie, and why did he change?
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________

5. What does Whit ask George to do, and how does George respond?
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________

(Main Idea and Details)
B. True/False: Mark each with a T for true or an F for false.
____ 6. Slim claims it takes intelligence to be a good person.
____ 7. Lennie was accused of rape after touching a girl’s dress in Weed.
____ 8. Curley’s wife likes to come into the bunkhouse to play cards with the ranch workers.
____ 9. George says Lennie can remember anything as long as it relates to food.
____ 10. Candy is glad that Carlson shot his dog so he didn’t have to.

All rights reserved

20 © Novel Units, Inc.

Name ________________________________ Of Mice and Men
Quiz #2
page 2

(Drawing Conclusions) • Downloadable Novel Units® Product • Single-Classroom User License •
C. Open-Ended Comprehension: On the lines below, explain why the other ranch workers don’t
prevent Carlson from shooting Candy’s dog even though they act ashamed when it happens.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________

All rights reserved

© Novel Units, Inc. 21

Name ________________________________ Of Mice and Men
Quiz #3

Pages 66–107

• Downloadable Novel Units® Product • Single-Classroom User License • (Main Idea and Details)
A. True/False: Mark each with a T for true or an F for false.

____ 1. Crooks warns Lennie that someone might hurt Slim in town.

____ 2. Curley’s wife is happy when she discovers that Lennie injured her husband’s hand.

____ 3. Crooks tells Candy to stop dreaming about the farm and accept that he will work on
the ranch until he dies.

____ 4. Curley forces George to help search for Lennie in order to prove his [George’s]
innocence in the death of Curley’s wife.

____ 5. Lennie’s last words are an apology to George for causing so much trouble.

(Character Analysis)All rights reserved
B. Identification: Match each statement below to the correct speaker: Lennie (L), George (G),
or Candy (C).
____ 6. “You ain’t fit to lick the boots of no rabbit.”
____ 7. “I s’pose you’re glad. Ever’body knowed you’d mess things up.”
____ 8. “You an’ me can get that little place, can’t we…Can’t we?”
____ 9. “—I think I knowed from the very first…we’d never do [it].”
____ 10. “He won’t get hurt. He ain’t never been hurt, ’cause he’s careful.”

(Support Responses)
C. Open-Ended Comprehension: On the lines below, explain whether Lennie is responsible for
Curley’s wife’s death.
___________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

22 © Novel Units, Inc.

Name ________________________________ Of Mice and Men
Novel Test

(Character Analysis)
A. Identification: Match each character with the BEST description.

____ 1. George a. enjoys playing cards and visiting parlor houses

____ 2. Slim b. fears feeling useless and being alone

____ 3. Whit c. asked George to always take care of Lennie

____ 4. Lennie d. the unofficial leader of the ranch workers

____ 5. Crooks e. feels lonely and unhappy at the ranch

____ 6. Candy f. is shunned on the ranch because of his race • Downloadable Novel Units® Product • Single-Classroom User License •

____ 7. Curley g. thinks migrant workers are the loneliest guys in the world

____ 8. Aunt Clara h. constantly complains about Candy’s old, smelly dog

____ 9. Curley’s wife i. picks fights with almost every man he encounters

____ 10. Carlson j. likes to touch soft, pretty things

B. Multiple Choice: Choose the BEST answer.

(Main Idea and Details)
____ 11. What does Lennie do with the dead puppy?

a. He tries to hide it in the hay.
b. He asks Curley’s wife for help.
c. He tells Candy to take it away.
d. He buries it behind the bunkhouse.

(Main Idea and Details)
____ 12. George is worried that the others will think he was involved in Curley’s wife’s death,

so he asks Candy to
a. let him tell the others what happened
b. help him hide Curley’s wife’s body in the hay
c. let him sneak off to the bunkhouse for a minute
d. help him steal Carlson’s gun so he can defend himself

(Point of View)
____ 13. According to Slim, most guys don’t travel together because

a. people are apt to rob each other in the night
b. everyone in the world is scared of each other
c. nobody wants to be burdened by another person
d. it is easier to find ranch work when you are alone

(Drawing Conclusions) All rights reserved
____ 14. Why won’t Curley ever get fired from the ranch?

a. He’s a former boxer.
b. His father owns the ranch.
c. He’s the most experienced ranch worker.
d. His wife has influence with the ranch owner.

© Novel Units, Inc. 23

Name ________________________________ Of Mice and Men
Novel Test
page 2

• Downloadable Novel Units® Product • Single-Classroom User License • (Point of View)
____ 15. According to Whit, why should Curley leave Slim alone?

a. Slim is not feeling well.
b. Curley’s wife was flirting with Slim.
c. Slim is best friends with the ranch boss.
d. Nobody knows what Slim is capable of doing.

(Main Idea and Details)
____ 16. What is one thing George says he could do without Lennie?

a. Enjoy himself in town.
b. Go back to Soledad to settle down.
c. Take care of the rabbits on his own.
d. Save up twice as much money for his own ranch.

(Main Idea and Details)
____ 17. What does George find in Lennie’s pocket that makes him angry?

a. a dead mouse
b. his work card
c. Carlson’s gun
d. a bottle of ketchup

(Interpret Text)
____ 18. The ranch boss is initially suspicious of George because he thinks George is

a. after Curley’s wife
b. trying to act tough
c. taking Lennie’s pay
d. being cruel to Lennie

(Main Idea and Details)
____ 19. Why does Slim say he is happy to give Lennie a puppy?

a. He doesn’t like dogs at all.
b. He didn’t want to give Curley a puppy.
c. He needs someone to watch the puppies.
d. He would have had to drown all of the puppies.

(Main Idea and Details)
____ 20. Why doesn’t George go to the parlor house with Whit and the other workers?

a. He doesn’t have any money.
b. He promised to help Slim work.
c. He is trying to save money for a farm.
d. He is afraid to leave Lennie alone at the ranch.

All rights reserved

24 © Novel Units, Inc.

Name ________________________________ Of Mice and Men
Novel Test
page 3

(Main Idea and Details) • Downloadable Novel Units® Product • Single-Classroom User License •
C. Fill in the Blanks
21. _______________ believes he has a right to _______________ and wants everyone to leave All rights reserved

him alone.
22. George and Lennie can’t wait to buy a(n) _______________ so they can live off the

_______________ of the land.
23. A(n) _______________ _______________ tells Lennie that _______________ is sick of him and

will beat him.
24. _______________ makes a deal with Curley so _______________ won’t get fired.
25. Crooks says, “Nobody never gets to _______________, and nobody gets no _______________.”

(Summarize Major Ideas)
D. Short Answer: Briefly respond to each of the following.
26. Explain why Candy wants to join George and Lennie on their dream farm.

______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

27. Explain why most migrant workers traveled alone.

______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

28. Describe the ways in which Curley’s wife advances the story’s plot.

______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

29. Explain why Slim seems to sympathize with George at the end of the novel.

______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

© Novel Units, Inc. 25

Name ________________________________ Of Mice and Men
Novel Test
page 4

30. Explain why Curley feels so confident about picking fights with bigger men.
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________

• Downloadable Novel Units® Product • Single-Classroom User License • E. Essay: Respond to two of the following in well-developed essays. Cite specific evidence from
the novel to support your responses.

(Interpret Text/Character Analysis)
I. Explain the meaning of Lennie’s visions at the end of the novel, and explain what this says
about his intelligence and personality.

(Making Connections/Literary Devices)
II. Explain how the death of Candy’s dog is important to the story and how it foreshadows the
end of the novel.

(Compare/Contrast/Drawing Conclusions)
III. Examine the manner in which Lennie drinks water from the river at the beginning of the

novel. How does this differ from the way in which he drinks the water after Curley’s wife’s
death, and what might this suggest?

All rights reserved

26 © Novel Units, Inc.

Answer Key • Downloadable Novel Units® Product • Single-Classroom User License •

Activity #1: 1. John Steinbeck 2. Answers will vary. 3. 1937 4. 107 5. Answers will vary. All rights reserved
6. Answers will vary. Rabbits, as well as the river setting, may play an important part in the story of
two men.

Activity #2: Answers will vary.

Activity #3: 1. a 2. a 3. b 4. c 5. a 6. d 7. d 8. d 9. a 10. a 11. d 12. b 13. c

Activity #4: Word maps will vary. Example: Vocabulary Word—receptive; Definition—open and
responsive; Synonym—approachable, open-minded; Antonym—close-minded, stubborn; Part of
Speech—adjective; Pronunciation—ri-sep-tiv; Sentence—Eric was promoted because he was the most
receptive employee to new corporate strategies.

Activity #5: 1. melodious/monotonous 2. sobbed/sniveled 3. scurried/skittered 4. kindly/belligerently
5. countered/retorted 6. salve/liniment 7. amassed/accumulated 8. anxiety/apprehension
9. captivating/disarming 10. respectful/scornful 11. proud/crestfallen; Antonyms—1, 4, 10, 11

Study Guide
Pages 1–37: 1. George is “quick, dark of face, with restless eyes and sharp, strong features” (p. 2). He
is much smaller than Lennie. Lennie is George’s opposite, “a huge man, shapeless of face, with large,
pale eyes” (p. 2). He is incredibly strong but has the disposition of a child. 2. Lennie hides a dead
mouse in his pocket because he likes to stroke its soft fur. George demands the mouse and throws it
away. 3. George gives Lennie strict instructions to stay quiet because if the boss hears Lennie talk, they
might not get the job. 4. George feels as though his life would be much easier without Lennie. He
thinks how at the end of the month he could spend his earnings in town having a good time. He says
Lennie is a tremendous burden to him. Answers will vary, but students can assume that George loves
Lennie and doesn’t resent his responsibilities as much as he claims. 5. Other workers are alone with
no one to care for them, but George and Lennie have each other—to talk to, to travel with, and to
look out for one another. 6. They plan to save their money and “have a little house and a couple of
acres an’ a cow and some pigs” (p. 14) and live off the land. George promises Lennie that he will be
allowed to tend the rabbits all by himself. 7. When Candy leads them to their beds in the bunkhouse,
George finds a small can of pesticide. He assumes that the beds at one time contained bugs, and he
feels as though they are being given poor accommodations. 8. George tells the ranch boss that Lennie
is his cousin who is mentally challenged and requires George’s care. Lennie is somewhat amazed that
George would claim Lennie as his cousin. 9. Candy says that Curley is “like a lot of little guys. He
hates big guys” (p. 26) and enjoys picking fights with them. Curley also feels entitled because his
father’s the boss. George thinks Curley might be showing off for his wife. 10. He instructs Lennie to
stay away from her and never speak to her no matter what: “I don’t care what she says and what she
does…she’s a rat-trap if I ever seen one” (p. 32). 11. Slim guesses that most men don’t travel together
because “maybe ever’body in the whole…world is scared of each other” (p. 35).

Pages 38–65: 1. George used to make fun of Lennie and beat him up, and Lennie never fought back.
George found this amusing and continued to treat him poorly until one day Lennie almost died when
he jumped into a river at George’s command. Lennie couldn’t swim, and George felt great remorse
afterward. 2. Lennie saw a girl in a red dress, and he wanted to touch the colorful fabric. The girl
screamed when Lennie grabbed her dress, so Lennie panicked and held on tighter. George made
Lennie let go, but the girl claimed that Lennie raped her. A lynch party was sent after Lennie, so he
and George hid in a ditch until they found a way to escape. 3. Candy’s dog is very old and crippled,
and Carlson hates the smell: “I don’t know nothing that stinks as bad as an old dog” (p. 44). Carlson
thinks the dog is miserable, and he convinces Candy to let him shoot it. 4. Slim calmly agrees with
Carlson and says the dog is no good anymore. He even offers Candy a puppy to make up for his loss.
5. Whit invites George to a parlor house, but George refuses the temptation so he can save money
for his dream farm. 6. Whit says “Nobody don’t know what Slim can do” (p. 54). 7. Candy suggests
contributing financially if George and Lennie allow him to join them on the farm. It is enough

© Novel Units, Inc. 27

• Downloadable Novel Units® Product • Single-Classroom User License • money to make the plan a real possibility, and George accepts the offer as long as Candy doesn’t tell
anyone else. 8. He feels he is no longer useful to the other ranch workers, and he’s certain that the
boss will fire him soon: “I won’t have no place to go, an’ I can’t get no more jobs” (p. 60). 9. CurleyAll rights reserved
picks a fight with Lennie because he thinks Lennie is laughing when the other workers are taunting
him [Curley]. When Curley begins to strike Lennie repeatedly, bloodying his face, George tells Lennie
to fight back. Lennie eventually reaches up to stop the blows, and he crushes Curley’s hand in his
own. 10. Slim silences Curley by threatening to tell everyone what really happened, embarrassing
Curley. Curley agrees to tell people he injured his hand in a machine on the ranch.

Pages 66–107: 1. Crooks wants to be left alone. He tells Lennie, “I ain’t wanted in the bunkhouse, and
you ain’t wanted in my room” (p. 68). It is the only place on the ranch where he has any control over
his life, and he wants to exert that control now. 2. Crooks suggests that George isn’t coming back,
to which Lennie replies, “George wouldn’t do nothing like that” (p. 71). Crooks continues taunting
Lennie about his dependence on George. 3. Crooks says, “A guy needs somebody—to be near him…
a guy gets too lonely an’ he gets sick” (pp. 72–73). He thinks the farm idea is farfetched and silly until
Candy comes into the barn and confirms Lennie’s story. 4. When Crooks and Candy dismiss her and
threaten to tell Curley about her flirtatious ways, Curley’s wife threatens to have Crooks killed. She
tells Candy that nobody would listen to them anyway, and she lords her power over them, reminding
them that they are the “weaklings” of the ranch. 5. Lennie killed his puppy by accident and tries to
hide it, afraid that George will no longer let him tend the rabbits on their farm. 6. Curley’s wife tells
Lennie that she had the opportunity to join a traveling show but her mother refused to let her go.
She claims that other men wanted her to star in movies, but her mother must have thwarted that
opportunity, also. So she married Curley instead, whom she doesn’t like because he “ain’t a nice fella”
(p. 89). She fervently wishes she could have been something more. 7. Lennie becomes nervous and
afraid: “I done a real bad thing…I shouldn’t of did that. George’ll be mad” (p. 92). He flees to the
hiding place in the woods. 8. He is wary about the search party. He knows they must apprehend
Lennie, but he also tells George, “Curley’s gonna want to shoot ’im…That ain’t no good” (p. 97).
9. Lennie sees his Aunt Clara and a gigantic rabbit. Lennie’s aunt scolds him for not listening to
George: “All the time he coulda had such a good time if it wasn’t for you” (p. 101). The rabbit mocks
him, saying he isn’t good enough to tend rabbits on the farm and insisting that George is going to
beat Lennie when he finds him. 10. Lennie is relieved to see George and begs him to be angry,
seemingly so he can feel normal. George refuses to do so and sits calmly with Lennie. At Lennie’s
request, George repeats the story of the dream farm. When Lennie is lost in thought about tending
the rabbits, George shoots Lennie in the back of the head.

Note: Responses to Activities #6–#14 will vary. Suggested responses are given where applicable.

Activity #6: Example—Page 61; Candy tells George, “I oughtta of shot that dog myself, George.
I shouldn’t oughtta of let no stranger shoot my dog.” This foreshadows George’s decision to kill
Lennie before Curley and the other ranch workers do.

Activity #7: Examples—Lennie to George: dependent; George to Lennie: watchful; Lennie to Slim:
thankful (for the puppy); Slim to Lennie: sympathetic; Lennie to Curley: frightened; Curley to Lennie:
antagonistic; Lennie to Curley’s wife: wary; Curley’s wife to Lennie: flirtatious

Activity #8: Examples—Decision #1: (Good) Lennie escapes being wrongfully arrested for rape. (Bad)
Lennie meets Curley’s wife, who is ultimately his downfall; Decision #2: (Good) Curley stops picking
fights with the ranch workers. (Bad) Curley’s hatred for Lennie intensifies; Decision #3: (Good) Lennie
is spared being arrested, tortured, or killed by strangers. (Bad) Besides the obvious fact that Lennie is
dead, George loses his only friend and must live with the guilt.

Activity #9: Examples for George—responsible, honest, bitter, regretful, loyal, wistful, small, dark,
slender, strong, intelligent, friendly, uncertain, resilient, careful, suspicious, insistent, thrifty, harsh

Activity #10: Answers will vary.

28 © Novel Units, Inc.

Activity #11: Example for Lennie—Beginning: naïve and childlike; Event #1: Lennie meets Curley’s • Downloadable Novel Units® Product • Single-Classroom User License •
wife/confusion; Event #2: Lennie hears about the puppies/excitement; Event #3: Lennie injures
Curley/fear; Event #4: Lennie meets Crooks/unawareness; Event #5: Lennie accidentally kills the
puppy and then Curley’s wife/anger, then fear; Event #6: Lennie meets George at the hiding
place/contentment, relief; End: happy and oblivious

Activity #12: Answers will vary.

Activity #13: Example—Setting #1: clearing by a river; Characters: George Milton and Lennie Small;
Exposition: George and Lennie fled their previous job because Lennie was accused of rape; Setting
#2—the ranch; Additional Characters: Candy, Carlson, Curley, Slim, Curley’s wife, Whit, Crooks;
Potential for Conflict: Curley immediately dislikes Lennie and looks for any reason to hurt him;
Developing Conflict: Lennie is enticed to touch Curley’s wife’s hair and accidentally kills her when
she struggles to free herself from his grasp; Resolution: George kills Lennie before he can be arrested
or killed by Curley and the other ranch workers.

Activity #14: Theme—loyalty; Examples from novel: George takes care of Lennie, Lennie listens
closely to George’s instructions, George defends Lennie’s actions to Slim, George tries to protect
Lennie from possible trouble at the ranch, George declines the invitation to go to town and spend
the money he and Lennie are saving for their dream farm, Candy initially refuses to allow his dog to
be harmed, Lennie defends George’s virtue to Crooks, George protects Lennie from Curley; Author’s
Message: It requires strength and integrity to be loyal to others, especially those who are burdensome
or difficult to love; Lessons learned will vary.

Quiz #1: A. 1. F 2. F 3. T 4. F 5. T B. 6. work card 7. loneliest 8. cousin/horse 9. pesticide OR powder/
bunk OR bed 10. Slim/prince C. Answers will vary. Refer to the scoring rubric on page 30 of this guide.

Quiz #2: A. Answers will vary. Suggestions: 1. Candy believes he will be fired from the ranch soon,
and he wants to go where he can feel useful and not be alone. 2. After Lennie crushes Curley’s hand,
Slim convinces Curley to attribute his injury to a machinery accident. He tells Curley that if he gets
Lennie fired, the other workers will tell the truth and Curley will be ridiculed. Slim does this to protect
Lennie. 3. Carlson hates the dog because he stinks, and he claims that the dog is miserable because
he’s old and crippled. He tells Candy that the dog shouldn’t suffer. 4. George used to play jokes on
Lennie and even beat him. One day, he told Lennie to jump in a river, but Lennie couldn’t swim and
almost drowned. George felt such guilt that he never played jokes on Lennie again. 5. Whit invites
George to town to visit a parlor house. George refuses because he’s saving his money to buy his and
Lennie’s dream farm. B. 6. F 7. T 8. F 9. T 10. F C. Answers will vary. Refer to the scoring rubric on
page 30 of this guide.

Quiz #3: A. 1. F 2. T 3. T 4. T 5. F B. 6. L (p. 102) 7. C (p. 95) 8. C (p. 94) 9. G (p. 94) 10. L (p. 71)
C. Answers will vary. Refer to the scoring rubric on page 30 of this guide.

Novel Test: A. 1. g 2. d 3. a 4. j 5. f 6. b 7. i 8. c 9. e 10. h B. 11. a 12. c 13. b 14. b 15. d 16. a 17. a
18. c 19. d 20. c C. 21. Crooks/privacy 22. farm/fat 23. gigantic rabbit/George 24. Slim/Lennie
25. heaven/land (p. 74) D. Responses will vary. Refer to the scoring rubric on page 30 of this guide.
E. Essays will vary. Refer to the scoring rubric on page 30 of this guide.

All rights reserved

© Novel Units, Inc. 29

Linking Novel Units® Student Packets to
National and State Reading Assessments

During the past several years, an increasing number of students have faced some form
of state-mandated competency testing in reading. Many states now administer state-developed
assessments to measure the skills and knowledge emphasized in their particular reading
curriculum. This Novel Units® guide includes open-ended comprehension questions that correlate
with state-mandated reading assessments. The rubric below provides important information for
evaluating responses to open-ended comprehension questions. Teachers may also use scoring
rubrics provided for their own state’s competency test.

• Downloadable Novel Units® Product • Single-Classroom User License • Scoring Rubric for Open-Ended Items

3-Exemplary Thorough, complete ideas/information
Clear organization throughout
Logical reasoning/conclusions
Thorough understanding of reading task
Accurate, complete response

2-Sufficient Many relevant ideas/pieces of information
Clear organization throughout most of response
Minor problems in logical reasoning/conclusions
General understanding of reading task
Generally accurate and complete response

1-Partially Sufficient Minimally relevant ideas/information
Obvious gaps in organization
Obvious problems in logical reasoning/conclusions
Minimal understanding of reading task
Inaccuracies/incomplete response

0-Insufficient Irrelevant ideas/information
No coherent organization
Major problems in logical reasoning/conclusions
Little or no understanding of reading task
Generally inaccurate/incomplete response

All rights reserved

30 © Novel Units, Inc.

• Downloadable Novel Units® Product • Single-Classroom User License •
Notes
© Novel Units, Inc. 31All rights reserved

• Downloadable Novel Units® Product • Single-Classroom User License •
Notes
32 © Novel Units, Inc.All rights reserved

• Downloadable Novel Units® Product • Single-Classroom User License •

NU82840